Article

The Union government has approved the diversion of 442 hectares of forest land for a 1500 MW closed-loop pumped storage hydro project in Assam, with a budget of ₹7273.23 crore. The project is located in Karbi Anglong district and will submerge 352 hectares, affecting over 1,100 residents.

It requires 484 hectares total, including 441.90 hectares of forest land and 42.10 hectares of non-forest land. The project features a 50-metre high lower dam and a 72-metre high upper dam within elephant corridors. The Environmental Appraisal Committee noted discrepancies in the classification of the project as open-loop rather than closed-loop.